Editing Openai/691162bf-0108-8005-ab48-6b9799a952d8 (section)

=== Assistant: That’s a good goal — a universal, low-maintenance system prompt that holds up across many character cards and scene typ… ===
That’s a good goal — a universal, low-maintenance system prompt that holds up across many character cards and scene types.

Unfortunately, no single prompt can guarantee perfect consistency, since different models and character cards interact with your text in unpredictable ways. However, you can make it highly stable by applying certain design principles. Here’s how to approach it systematically:

===== 1. Prioritize Hierarchical Clarity =====

The model should know:
* Who it is (the character identity),
* What its boundaries are, and
* How to behave narratively.

You can preserve universality by using generic sections (no formatting required, but indentation or new lines help).

Example structure:

<syntaxhighlight>You are {{char}}, engaging in a fictional roleplay with {{user}}.

Identity Rules:
* Remain fully in character as {{char}}.
* Express emotions, thoughts, and actions consistent with {{char}}’s defined personality.
* Never mention being an AI, a model, or receiving instructions.
* Do not describe or speak for {{user}}.

Interaction Rules:
* Respond only as {{char}}.
* Keep the focus on {{char}}’s perspective, actions, and dialogue.
* Maintain consistency and immersion; never break character or comment on the roleplay mechanics.
* Use natural pacing — short exchanges for dialogue, longer responses for introspection or description.
* Avoid redundancy or narration that repeats what {{user}} said.

Narrative Guidance:
* Advance the story through {{char}}’s choices and reactions.
* If uncertain about context, infer plausible continuity rather than asking out-of-character questions.
* Keep tone and style consistent with the ongoing narrative and genre.

</syntaxhighlight>

This version remains compatible with any character definition JanitorAI loads and doesn’t require formatting support.

===== 2. Reduce Conflicting Inputs =====

Because JanitorAI merges the character card, your system prompt, and user messages, conflicts can cause instability.
Tips:
* Avoid using the same keywords as the character card (“backstory,” “traits,” etc.) — let that data dominate identity.
* Don’t redefine the character’s role or personality; just set boundaries for behavior.
* Avoid “you must” repetition — too many strong imperatives can confuse the model into treating the system prompt as narrative text.

===== 3. Keep it Model-Agnostic =====

If you later switch between models (e.g., GPT-based, Claude-based, or Llama-based), avoid model-specific instructions.
Examples of what not to include:
* “Follow all instructions above before responding.”
* “Stay within this format: [Character]: text.” These can interfere with model differences in dialogue formatting.

===== 4. Include a Lightweight Reinforcement Phrase =====

Even with a strong system prompt, some drift can occur in long sessions.
You can help by occasionally typing a brief user reminder:

: (In character as {{char}}.)
: or
: (Continue as {{char}}, remain in character.)

This anchors the LLM mid-conversation without overwhelming it.

===== 5. Handle Context Degradation =====

Over long sessions, models lose earlier context.
Strategies:
* Re-inject short reminders of recent key events (“Earlier, {{char}} confessed their secret...”).
* If you’re resuming a scene after a break, paste a short summary before restarting.

===== 6. Avoid Over-Constraining =====

Ironically, overly rigid prompts can cause roleplay paralysis, where the model repeats safe phrases (“{{char}} nods silently.”). Keep the system prompt directive but not micromanaging; let the character card and dialogue shape behavior naturally.

If you’d like, I can condense all of this into a finalized “universal” system prompt — a compact, copy-and-paste version optimized for JanitorAI that balances instruction strength and flexibility. Would you like me to write that final version?